A new Field Poll shows California Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer is still facing a tough reelection battle.

(CNN) - Hours before Vice President Joe Biden headlines a fundraiser in California for Sen. Barbara Boxer, a new survey indicates that the race between the three-term Democrat and Carly Fiorina, her Republican challenger, remains tight.

According to a Field Poll released Thursday morning, 47 percent of California voters say they support Boxer, with 44 percent saying they back Fiorina, and nine percent undecided. Boxer's three point advantage is within the survey's sampling error.

The poll indicates that Boxer leads by eight points among crucial independent voters.

Fiorina, the former Hewlett Packard CEO, who was also an economic adviser and surrogate for Sen. John McCain's White House bid, beat out two other rivals in the GOP primary earlier this month.

Boxer led Fiorina by 4 points in a Reuters/Ipsos poll late last month, the only other non-partisan survey conducted since the June 8 primary.

According to the Field Poll, 42 percent approve of the job Boxer's doing in the Senate, with 43 percent saying they disapprove. And her unfavorable rating now stands at 52 percent.

The survey indicates that more Californians are now familiar with Fiorina. Nearly two in three voters in the Golden State can now offer an opinion of her, nearly double the level of people familiar with her in January.

Biden headlines a fundraiser for Boxer Thursday evening in Atherton, California. President Barack Obama traveled to California twice this year to help raise campaign funds for Boxer.

Earlier in the day, the vice president is the main attraction at a campaign event in Oregon for Rep. Kurt Schrader, who faces a tough re-election battle.

The Field Poll was conducted June 22-July 5, with 1,005 California voters questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.

soundoff(46 Responses)

Congress approval rating at below 20% but let's vote for the same old peop-le who caused this mess. With that type of thinking we deserve the government we have.

July 8, 2010 10:14 am at 10:14 am |

Fair is Fair

Hey Biden...

Try to remember – Barbara Boxer is a senator, not a former heavyweight champion.

You're welcome... buffoon.

July 8, 2010 10:15 am at 10:15 am |

Donkey Party

When CA voters look at Fiorina's history at HP, they'll laugh her off as unfit like the rest of anyone following politics already has.

July 8, 2010 10:16 am at 10:16 am |

Get A Grip

So, good old "Average Joe' is going to waste the taxpayers money once again to head up a fundraiser in California for Sen. Barbara Boxer. Perhaps 'Average Joe' should stay in Washington and do a little work for a change.

July 8, 2010 10:17 am at 10:17 am |

Adalbert

Florina’s strong showing in the pools only indicates that even a two time loser can run well as log as she is rich and have enough money to spend.

July 8, 2010 10:18 am at 10:18 am |

gary

OMG if Republicans win the Governor and Senate races in Cali after winning the races in Mass, NJ and VA....that would be a huge turn of the tide.....Another state PA could go Republican for the Senate and Governor races (both races are close with Repubs ahead)....Interesting time in this country.

July 8, 2010 10:19 am at 10:19 am |

snow

If the people in California to keep electing/re-electing liberal demorats then they deserve the financial mess they are in. The union pension plans are eating the economy. Both brown and boxer are avid advocates of union's and their pension plans. brown almost destroyed the economies when he was Governor and as a Mayor. boxer has been supporting tax and spend policies since she has been in DC.

July 8, 2010 10:22 am at 10:22 am |

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA

Sen. Boxer has a strong stance on the issues statewide and nationwide. Fiorina is a failed CEO which automatically disqualifies her in my book. I wonder what Ms. Fiorina will do to prevent sexual offenders from preying on children. I've Sen. Boxer's view on this matter on Larry King and she has it right. I haven't heard a word out of Carly's mouth about it.

July 8, 2010 10:24 am at 10:24 am |

JohninTampa

Hire Fiorina. Her 'demon sheep' ad has still got to be the funniest thing I ever saw in politics. Of course, they had to have dropped some bad acid or something to come up with that, but that's not MY problem.

July 8, 2010 10:27 am at 10:27 am |

Sorensen

Senator Boxer is a serous and talented politician.
Fiorina screwed up H-P. She is an overambitious, mean little
woman, who has nowhere else to go.
What a choice!!

July 8, 2010 10:28 am at 10:28 am |

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ

Does being a CEO make a good policitian? I don't think so given that they work so differently. Fiorina was fired from HP, wasn't she? What has she promised that she will do in the Senate? Do people realize that it will take her to convince at least 59 other senators to get something done in the Senate? She can't just fire the other senators.

July 8, 2010 10:29 am at 10:29 am |

Naqib

Bye Barbie....
You and yours have driven us so deep... we may never get out.
1994 to 2006 was the best finacial run of our lifetime, maybe the best run in US history... and then you gained control of Congress and lawmaking... it's all gone now (only 4 years to ruin us) and the hole left may never be fixed.... you simply have to go!

July 8, 2010 10:32 am at 10:32 am |

doug

If you have to be void of even the most remote trace of morals, values, decency, integrity, and kindness to vote for Boxer. Such people can only be elected in the hate-filled lib areas.

July 8, 2010 10:33 am at 10:33 am |

awaitingliberalizationbyCNN

If there is any face that symbolize the Democrats smarmy, elitist, stupidity and total corruption other than Charles Schumer, it is this joke of a Senator.

July 8, 2010 10:41 am at 10:41 am |

geecee

Hope they have a debate before the election – Boxer will destroy Fiorina!

July 8, 2010 10:42 am at 10:42 am |

Rick

more Biden BULL to come when he opens his trap

July 8, 2010 10:45 am at 10:45 am |

Steve (the real one)

I don't live in Cali, so I don't have a dog in this fight so vote well Cali! Your vote is important and has national implications! Vote well, Cali, vote well!

July 8, 2010 10:46 am at 10:46 am |

glarn skleebleman

In what bizarro alternate universe can a former CEO promises to 'do to California what I did to Hewlett-Packard' and expect to get elected? Oh... I guess it's this one.

July 8, 2010 10:49 am at 10:49 am |

Greg Pottstown PA

I would love to see this woman out of our government. I don't care if she is replaced by a republican or a democrat I just want her out. In this case she would be replaced by a republican witch would be saying a lot considering the part of Ca she represents.

July 8, 2010 10:49 am at 10:49 am |

gus

Carly Fiorima ran Hewlett Packard into the ground and caused a job loss, just think what she'd do for the US